THE nine-in-a-row legend – once sold for a record transfer fee between two Scottish clubs – claims he was conned into making a financial investment Down Under and lost nearly everything.

Rangers nine-in-a-row legend Ian Ferguson has admitted being so skint that he was forced to take a job cleaning beaches in Australia.

Scotland international Ferguson, once sold for a record transfer fee between two Scottish clubs, claims he’s been the victim of a fraud Down Under which left him broke.

The 47-year-old ended his playing career in Oz but was then sacked as the manager of Perth Glory in February last year.

Five months later, he landed a job as a beach cleaner in Stirling, Western Australia, for around two months.

He is now director of football and coaching at Northern Fury in Queensland.

But former midfielder Ferguson, who scored for St Mirren in their 1-0 win over Dundee United in the 1987 Scottish Cup final, is battling to recover cash he claims he was duped into handing over in a bogus investment.

He said: “I was conned into making a financial investment and lost almost everything.

“I’ve really been put in the s*** and I’m not the only person. I hope I can get some of my money back but it could take a while.

“Some people might have a laugh at me being skint but I’m not embarrassed having to take a job on the beach. It was a short-term thing and I had to do something to earn a living.

“But I’m now back in football and doing what I love. I’ve got a great job at Northern Fury.”

A profile on Ferguson wearing his beach uniform appeared in the inhouse magazine of his Aussie employer Stirling Council.

In it, he wrote: “I have been involved in soccer for 20+ years. I am now looking for a new direction in my life or a new challenge and cannot think of a better place than City of Stirling. Thank you.”

Ferguson made more than 300 appearances for Rangers and was one of only three players to take part in every season of their nine-in-a-row league titles run.

His move to Gers from St Mirren for £850,000 was a then record transfer fee between two Scottish clubs.